How to Stretch a Stiff Spine (Video)

If you've got a stiff back, it's very important that you don't go past your range of motion. Stretch a stiff spine with help from the President and founder of YogaFit, Inc. in this free video clip.

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Video Transcript

Hi I'm Beth Shaw, founder of YogaFit. And today we are going to do some postures to stretch out a stiff spine. So if we have a stiff back it's really important that we don't go past our range of motion. And also to realize that your normal range of motion is probably compromised. So go ahead and grab some eggs or some blocks. Come into a seated position with your legs extended. Your toes are pointed towards the sky. You are sitting up nice and tall. And then just gently press your forearms into the blocks. Close the eyes, breathe. Lets keep a neutral spine. Keep the heart center pulling forward. When you feel like you've lost the stretch go ahead and slide those blocks out a little bit more and go deeper into the pose. And also this helps to relax the trapezius muscle so we don't tighten our shoulders while we are trying to stretch out our low back. When you feel like you've lost the stretch go ahead and extend those blocks out further. Relax the head and neck. And you can also take a strap or a band, place it around the feet. And just gently pull yourself into a forward fold. It's also important to do some easy rotations to the back as well. So doing an easy spinal twist. Bringing either knee in. Looking over the shoulder. Lifting out of the low back. Be gentle with your body. Listen to your body and let go of any expectation or competition that you have. I'm Beth Shaw, founder of YogaFit and these are postures for a stiff spine.